What feed can be produced by pellet feed production line

As the feed industry develops towards refinement and functionalization, pellet feed production line is the core equipment of modern feed production, and its process adaptability directly determines the market competitiveness of products. Based on engineering practice data, this paper systematically analyzes the raw material processing boundaries, process parameter thresholds and special feed development paths of the current mainstream pellet feed production line, and provides quantifiable technical selection references for colleagues in the industry.

Overview of the core functions of the pellet feed production line

The pellet feed production line is a complete set of equipment that compresses powdered raw materials into cylindrical pellets with a diameter of 1-12mm through mechanical processing. Its core value lies in improving the nutritional utilization rate of feed (which is 15-20% higher than that of powder) and enhancing storage stability by reducing water activity to below 0.6. The typical system includes crushing, batching, mixing, conditioning, granulation, cooling, screening and other sections, and achieves an automation rate of 85-92% through the PLC control system.

Production adaptability of mainstream feed varieties

Livestock and poultry compound feed

It can process complete feeds such as broilers (2.5-3mm), laying hens (3-4mm), and fattening pigs (3-5mm). The ring die presses the formula with a crude protein content of 18-22% at 65-75℃, and the starch gelatinization degree reaches 35-45%. The three-layer conditioner (85℃/20 seconds) is required for suckling pig trough feed to improve palatability.

Special feed for aquatic products

Producers need to control the powder content of sinking fish feed (particle size of catfish feed 4.5mm) to be less than 8%, and add 3-5% high-gluten flour to shrimp feed (1.2-2mm) to enhance stability in water. When operators co-produce using the puffing line and the pellet line, they can adjust the density of the puffed sinking feed to 1.1–1.3g/cm³.

Ruminant feed

Cattle and sheep TMR pellets (6-8mm) need to maintain NDF greater than 30%. A 10:1 compression ratio ring die is used to ensure the integrity of crude fiber. Licking brick products need to add an additional 12-15% molasses as a binder.

Development potential of special functional feed

Fermented feed particles (Bacillus survival rate > 1×10⁸CFU/g) need to control the tempering temperature < 50℃

Premix carrier particles (zeolite + montmorillonite matrix) can improve the mixing uniformity of trace components (CV < 5%)

Medicinal sustained-release particles (oxytetracycline, etc.) can achieve a 12-hour dissolution rate of < 80% through ethyl cellulose coating

Key technical indicators of raw material adaptability

Starch (corn/wheat) addition should be > 20% to ensure adhesion

The process limits fat addition to 6%, but operators can increase it to 10% using the external spraying process.

When the proportion of fiber raw materials (bran/DDGS) exceeds 25%, designers require a stepped ring mold design.